MAYPOLE-MAYPOLE-

As this outfit, from Baltimore US, had known each other for a while, the real up and comming would happen when they brought in Dennis Tobell. Heading out on the road they caught the interest from Jerry Ross at the Colossus Label. Released in 1971 this album neither got the edge or stamina to stick out from the great year of 1971. The style of Psych/hard/melodic rock maybe just was to soon for the audience???

The production is flawless with a great basstrack over the whole record. The guitars interacts perfectly with the rhythm section. The weak spot would be the vocals and lack of drive in the performance of the songs, which by the way, are awesome. There are great consistancy over the album but no songs sticks out the either way. This is a comfortably numb record and that is not, what it took to make back in ´71. The financial strain at Colossus didn´t do much to promote this album and it soon ended up in the “sales” department. The band dissolved in 1972.

Whatabout the drummer, Paul Welsh?? As an avarage dynamic persona, it is a bit up to the big League. Great hitratio does not compensate poor striking ability and the overall impression is a bit to anxious in the approach. The lack of drive in more hard songs is eminent and nothing to replicate. This is below par and could have been a lot better with Another drummer fitted into this style of songs. To bad…

If you´re in for Psych/hard/melodic rock albums this is a true goldfind. There is nothing missing in the musical department but it is nothing comparing with the big acts at the time. Just a forgotten gem with a great bass sound. Great reissues are out there for less Money and why not, in the right mindset this is a pretty awesome album… 🙂

VINYLRATING/GRADE

-5-OK!-WORTH EXPLORING-